Can vintage be modern? Hoakon+ Helga’s handbags prove that it can be.

The handmade handbag line founded by Canadian designer Andrea Strand, and named after the designers Norwegian grandparents, fuses together the past, present and future seamlessly into beautiful designs.

Andrea Strands hunts for vintage leather jackets which she incorporates into her designs, this gives her bags a unique one-of-a kind look. Each creation is an original due to the nature of the initial recycled material. This is perfect for those in search of modern looking handbags, yet still want something that is as individualistic as they are.

I had the opportunity to get to know more about Andrea, Hoakon+Helga and her digital magazine ANTLER Magazine.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hi! My name is Andrea. I live in Calgary, AB. I make bags out of vintage leather jackets and run an online magazine called ANTLER which features creative people from all over the globe. I graduated in 2006 from the Alberta College of Art and Design with a Fine Arts Degree, majoring in textiles. During my second year at ACAD I discovered my love of making bags and haven’t stopped since. I do thrift store hunts around the city at least twice a week, take lots of bike ride breaks from sewing during the day, and drink way too many chai lattes. I love anything Art Nouveau, old Hitchcock tv episodes and comfy Fall sweaters.

How did you come up with the idea to use vintage leather jackets for your latest collection?
My mom opened an antique shop for a few years in my early twenties and I spent many hours there wandering through and learning about objects from different eras. I started to collect vintage barkcloth and upholstery materials amongst other things and began to stockpile them. While at ACAD I began to create fabric collage pieces with both these materials and the hand-dyed screenprinted fabrics I was making. This was the beginning of me making bags, and also the beginning of my love for materials from the past. After that I started going to thrift stores to find more upholstery materials and came across some vintage leather jackets. I figured out how to sew leather and really liked the weight of the material and how it creates a casual, slouchy style. I’ve been making my bags out of vintage leather jackets for two years now and still incorporate vintage upholstery fabrics in to some of my designs as well.

What are the defining features of your work?
Eco-friendly and casual. I design bags I would want to wear myself. I think about how I like to quickly throw my keys in an outside pocket after I leave my apartment, or an easy storage spot for my phone. I also think about how I like to have a longer strap sometimes if I’m carrying too many things or taking a bike ride, yet still prefer a shorter strap for the rest of the time. Each time I find a new jacket I get inspired and think about the possibilities and what style of bag it would look great as. I love the fact that each bag becomes one of a kind because of the vintage jacket used and I think my customers enjoy it too as it gives them something that is uniquely their own.

Where do you get your inspirations?
I get inspired from strangers walking down the street and international street style blogs. I like to make bags that are practical and for the every day person so noticing what people are carrying is the best inspiration there is for me.

What’s your favorite fall look?
Grandpa sweaters and hand knit scarves.

Is there anything you’d like to try your hands at doing?
I’ve always wanted to refinish vintage furniture and daydream often about doing that instead of making bags. Maybe one day but right now I’m pretty content.

What inspired you to create ANTLER, the digital magazine, and can you tell us a little more about it?
ANTLER was kind of like my current urge to refurnish vintage furniture… I had the idea one day and it stuck around for a while so I decided to go with it and see what happens. I had no idea it would take off as much as it has. I like to consider it a place to feature emerging artists/designers/creatives. I think there are so many interesting people around the globe that feature their work online, and I thought it would be so great to see them compiled in to collections for each issue. Some themes I’ve done are Dream girl, Vintage, Cabinet of Curiosities, and the latest issue is Cosmic. My favourite part of compiling each issue is seeing how far apart everyone is geographically. This current issue features artists/designers/creatives from Alberta, Russia, Spain, Los Angeles, Berlin, Australia, Brooklyn, Austin, and Chicago, to name a few.

What are your future plans with Hoakon + Helga?
I would like to see it continue to grow. It took a long time for me to be able to do what I love full time and I want to continue down that path.

What’s in your handbag?
Ha Ha, well, chapstick, iPhone, wallet, keys, a heck of a lot of reciepts, thread, scissors, magnetic button closures, a business book I took out from the library, and a notebook full of to-do lists from the past 4 months.

Photography courtesy of  NicoleIrene Dyck

Adelaide Kwaning is a guest blogger for calgaryfashion who also features handmade items on her blog.

The online fashion and lifestyle magazine Antler have just released their third issue. Entitled the Vintage issue, Antler magazine covers a broad spectrum of vintage fashion finds not only in Calgary but around the world.

Volume 3 features Q+A’s from Calgary designers such as Brook Fung from Peeko Apparel, vintage collector and jewelry designer Jenna Friscke and illustrator Karen Klassen.

There are also a variety of fashion editorials that speak to the theme of  volume 3. We are especially enamored with the Would You Stay If She Promised You Heaven? editorial, which features the confident and preternatural pieces of Bespoke Finery. Designer, John James is set to launch the premier collection at the WALK LIKE A WARRIOR show, February 27th, 2010 at 100 Wines by David Walker.

To read or download a copy of Antler please visit:  Antler Magazine